Chapter 67
Qiu Chi's words left Xu Jiangyang speechless.
He gave an awkward smile. "That's not what I meant..."
"Mm, I know that's not what you meant. You can go now. It wouldn't look good for a man and a woman to be seen alone together."
With things said to this extent, what else could Xu Jiangyang do but leave?
He pressed his lips together. "I'll be going then. But I really don't have any ill intentions. I just want to be friends with you. I hope you don't think too poorly of me."
Qiu Chi remained silent after he finished speaking. Xu Jiangyang waited for a few seconds, but when he saw that she was ignoring him, he had no choice but to turn and leave.
However, this didn't mean Qiu Chi would be left in peace for a while.
It was as if Qiu Chi had some sort of grudge with Zhang Maizi's family, because among the village lads fawning over Wang Fang was none other than Zhang Maizi's younger brother.
After running off in tears, Wang Fang was naturally unwilling to let the matter rest.
So, she first went to find Zhang Maizi's younger brother, Zhang Guzi, to cry and complain. Her main goal was to get Zhang Guzi to help her take revenge on Qiu Chi; after all, he was a local and was tall and well-built.
Wang Fang was certainly audacious. Even though Qiu Chi already knew so much about her, she still thought she could hide her complaints to Zhang Guzi from Qiu Chi.
Zhang Guzi's expression was complicated as he listened to Wang Fang's tearful complaints.
After all, back when the incident with Zhang Maizi happened, he had been twelve or thirteen, so he naturally remembered what had occurred.
Furthermore, the wild boars Qiu Chi had hauled back to the village over the past few years were a clear testament to her physical prowess.
Zhang Guzi wasn't an idiot; he understood the implication behind Wang Fang's words. Swallowing nervously, he tried to persuade her, "Fang, I think we should just let this go. Erxi... she's really tough."
Wang Fang's eyes widened in disbelief. "What do you mean? She humiliated me in front of everyone and slandered me, and you want me to just let it go? Are you a man or not?"
Being told he wasn't a man made Zhang Guzi unhappy as well. He asked directly, "Well then, Fang'er, are you willing to marry me? If you are, I'll help you go make trouble for Erxi."
Now it was Wang Fang's turn to be taken aback. She lowered her gaze, feigning shyness. "You... why are you suddenly saying that? I've only been here for a short time. If I suddenly marry you, what will people think of me? Feelings need to be nurtured over time, don't they?"
"Right, feelings need to be nurtured over time." Zhang Guzi nodded in agreement before changing the subject. "In that case, I can't help you make trouble for Erxi."
Wang Fang grew anxious. "Why not? After everything between us, I'm just asking you to help me let off some steam. You're not even willing to do that?"
"It's not that he's unwilling. It's that he knows making trouble for me will earn him a beating, and afterward, the story of you two will spread throughout the village, forcing you to marry him. Of course, that's the ideal outcome. The less-than-ideal one is that I also reveal what you've been hiding from him. Your reputation would be utterly ruined, and you might even be sent away for re-education."
Qiu Chi's sudden voice was like a ghost's, startling both Zhang Guzi and Wang Fang.
Zhang Guzi was fine; he managed to stay calm.
Wang Fang, however, could not. Her voice was shrill. "How did you get here?"
As she spoke, she turned her gaze to Zhang Guzi, accusing him. "Didn't you say this place was remote and that no one would come here? Why is she here, and how does she know so much about what we were just talking about?"
The more she spoke, the more suspicious of Zhang Guzi she became.
Startled by Qiu Chi and now being suspected by Wang Fang, Zhang Guzi was in a foul mood. "So you're suspecting me of telling her?"
Wang Fang bit her lip. She didn't say anything, but her meaning was obvious.
Zhang Guzi was starting to get angry now too. "Qingshan Village is only so big. Erxi grew up here; how could she not know this spot? And what about what Erxi just said? What have you been hiding from me?"
Qiu Chi stood to the side, watching the two of them start to tear into each other.
Of course, Wang Fang refused to admit she was hiding anything from him. She tried to use emotional blackmail, declaring righteously, "What could I possibly hide from you? She's just slandering me! You actually believe her over me?"
Unfortunately for her, this tactic didn't work on Zhang Guzi. He gave her a disappointed look. "Erxi doesn't lie. Besides, you two barely know each other. Why would she slander you?"
Zhang Guzi's words made Wang Fang furious.
"Who are you dating, me or her? If you're going to side with her so much, then go be with her! Why bother coming to me?"
At this, Qiu Chi had something to say. "He might want to, but it depends on whether he's worthy."
Qiu Chi's tone was placid, but her words were incredibly arrogant.
Emboldened by Xu Jiangyang's absence, Wang Fang sneered, "You've got some nerve saying that. A country bumpkin who probably can't even read. How dare you look down on others? You should take a good look at yourself and see what you're worth. The audacity!"
As Wang Fang spoke, Zhang Guzi kept tugging at her arm, trying to stop her.
But it was no use. After she finished insulting Qiu Chi, she shoved Zhang Guzi away. "Get away from me! If you're going to defend her like this, then don't come looking for me again. It's a pity she thinks you're beneath her. If even she thinks you're unworthy, do you really think you're good enough for me?"
Zhang Guzi froze, looking at Wang Fang in disbelief. "Is that really what you think of me?"
Since all pretenses were dropped, Wang Fang spoke without holding back, but she still remembered to drag Qiu Chi into it. "It's not what I think, it's what she thinks. She doesn't even think you're good enough for her, so how could I possibly be of a lower standard?"
Qiu Chi found Wang Fang truly ridiculous. "Comparing yourself to me? Are you worthy?"
"Zhang Guzi isn't worthy. And with all the things you've done, you're even less worthy than he is."
Post a Comment